Multi-use article of juvenile furniture



Oct. 28, 1958 B. F. THOMPSON 2,357,955

MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE FURNITURE Filed Dec. 21, 1953 5Sheets-Sheet 1 BURNETT F. THOMPSON,

INVENTOR.

HUBNER,8E'EHLER, WORREL a HERZ/G,

ATTORNE' KS.

Oct. 28, 1958 a. F. THOMPSON 2,857,955 MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILEFURNITURE Filed D90. 21, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BURNETT F. THOMPSON;

IN VEN TOR.

HUEBNER BEEF/LEI? WORPEL 8 HERZIG, By ATTORNEYS- Oct. 28, 1958 B. F.THOMPSON MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE'FURNITURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledDec. 21, 1953 INVENTOR.

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BURNETT F- THOMPSON HUE8NER98EEHLER9 WORREL 8 HERZIG,

ATTORNEYS- Oct. 28, 1958 THOMPSON 2,857,956

MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE FURNITURE Filed Dec. 21. 1953 5Sheets-Sheet 4 BURNETT 5. THOMPSON,

44 a1 72 :1 mmvrm HUE8NER,8EEHLER, woma a He'Rz/a, By v ATTORNEYS- Oct.28, 1958 B. F. THOMPSON 2,857,955

MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE FURNITURE Filed Dec. 21, 1953 5Sheets-Sheet 5 BURNETT F. THOMPSON} INVENTOR.

HUEBNER, BEE/IL ER WORREL a HERZ'IG, By ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent ()fiiice 2,857,956 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 MULTI-USEARTICLE @F JUVENILE FURNITURE Burnett F. Thompson, Long Beach, Calif.,assignor of one-third to William A. Wittman, South Gate, Calif., andtwo-thirds to Ben-Jae Enterprises Inc., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,402

Claims. (Cl. 155-124) This invention relates to a multi-use article ofjuvenile furniture designed to be utilized in a large number ofdifierent ways, and even at different ages in the childs development, toeliminate the necessity for the purchase of various articles of juvenilefurniture, and is specifically designed for convenient adaptation to awide variety of desired uses for the child from infancy to approximatelyten years of age.

It is usually necessary to provide a relatively large number ofdifferent articles of juvenile furniture adapted specifically for usewith infants and children, such as highchairs, play tables, cribs,blackboards, car beds and seats, portable beds, swings, rocking cribs orbeds, and the like, in order to provide adequately for the care andfeeding of such a child.

In view of the above and other considerations, it is among the objectsof this invention to provide a multiuse article of juvenile furniturewhich is relatively simple in construction and mode of operation andmanufacture, and which can be readily converted from one use to anotherwithout extensive manipulation of complex parts and Without substantialdismounting of various component portions thereof, and the parts ofwhich serve multiple purposes by facile conversion and interrelationshipin their desired uses,

It is also an object of this invention to provide a multiuse article ofjuvenile furniture of the desired character described, which includes aframe member supported by extensible legs, said legs having incorporatedtherein a simple means, such as a detent member, which is adapted tomaintain said legs in any one of a plurality of selected positions inorder that the height of the frame may be controlled so that themulti-use article of furniture may be raised from, c. g., a lower to amore convenient elevated crib or bassinet, or from a play table to afeeding table of any height, including that of a conventional highchair,or table, so that the child may eat at the table level and adjacent thatof its parents.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a multi-usearticle of juvenile furniture which includes a supporting framestructure having transversely oriented means incorporated therein, and aseat structure o tionally gravitationally but securely suspensible onsaid means by means of elongated means provided thereon.

A further object of this invention is the provision in such amulti-purpose article, of a seat structure demountably supported on orin cooperative relationship with a table-supporting structure.

It is an object of this invention to avoid the necessity of untying orundoing various types of fasteners in mounting or demounting the crib orseat structure from the table-supporting structure acting as a frametherefor.

Additional objects of this invention are the provision, in an article ofthe aforementioned character, of a footrest structure which isdisposable in operative relationship with the table-supporting structureand which includes side means engageable with the tablesupportingstructure to retain the same in a preferred place of use;

the provision of a foot-rest structure movable between a first positionin which laterally spaced side means are disposed in engagement with aframe portion to maintain the foot-rest structure in a position tocooperate with the seat structure in defining a portable bed for aninfant and a second, vertical position in which it is disposed below andsuspended from the seat structure to provide a foot-rest for the infantwhen it is seated in an erect position on the seat structure.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a seat structurefor utilization in an article of multi-use furniture which includessuspensory arm members having pivOtally secured thereto seat supportingmounting links, said seat supporting mounting links being adjustable bymeans of an adjusting link to adjust said suspensory arm members withreference to the seat of said seat structure to permit the same to beutilized in a wide variety of applications.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a seatstructure of the aforementioned character which includes a foldable backhingedly connected thereto, said back being constituted by a pair ofhinged sections which are adapted to be disposed in a first, verticalposition in which they serve as a seat back and in a second, horizontalposition in which they are extended to form a portion of the bottom of abed structure in cooperation with the aforementioned foot-reststructure.

An additional object of this invention is theprovision of an adjustableand demountable foot rest which is disposable in operative relationshipwith the aforesaid foot-rest structure when said structure is disposedin the second, horizontal position in operative relationship with saidseat structure to serve as a foot rest for an infant maintained in anerect, seated position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a multi-use articleof furniture which is composed of a minimum number of easily assembledparts and which can be converted from one use to another without thenecessity for the manipulation of a large number of fasteners or similararticles.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a multi-usearticle of furniture of the aforementioned character which can be foldedto permit it to be readily transported from one location to another.

it is moreover among the objects of this invention to provideimprovements over prior art devices heretofore intended to accomplishgenerally similar purposes.

Other objects and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings which are for thepurpose of illustration only and in which:

Figure l is a utility view showing a multi-use article of furnitureconstructed in accordance with this invention as an infant seat, andplay or eating table.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, partly sectional view of a multi-use articleof furniture constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the multi-use article of furniture.

Figure 4 is a vertical, partly sectional view taken on the broken line4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the broken line 5-5of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical, partly sectional view taken on the broken line6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly sectional view taken on thebroken line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the brokenline S-i of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the seat structure of themulti-use article of furniture of this invention. utilized as a swing.

"Figure '10 shows the seat structure utilized as a car seat.

Figure 11 shows the seat and foot-rest structures of the article offurniture of this invention utilized as a temporary infant bed.

Figure 12 shows the article of furniture of this invention in foldedpositionto facilitate the transportion thereof.

Figure 13 shows the utilization of the article of furniture of thisinvention in conjunction with demountable rockers.

"Figure 14 shows the extent to which the telescoping legs of .thearticle of furniture may be extended to permit it to be utilized atvarying heights above the surface upon hich it is supported.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1-3, 5 ,6,and 8 thereof, there .is shown a multiuse article of juvenile furniture10 constructed in accordance with this invention and including a tablestructure 11 of substantially rectangular configuration havingassociated therewith a seat structure 12 and a foot rest structure 14.The table structure 11 includes a peripheral frame 16 constituted, inthe present instance, by an aluminum extrusion incorporating an inwardlydirected integral flange 17 for receiving and supporting the peripheraledge of a removable top or play surface 18 having an opening 19 in oneend thereof juxtaposed to the chair structure 12 which is supportedbelow said opening in a manner to be described in greater detail below.

The table top 18 can be readily removed from its association with theinwardly directed flange 17 of the peripheral flange frame 16 to permitanother table top, Figure 14,.to be substituted therefor when it isdesired to utilize the article .of furniture 10 as a table, thesubstituted table top being imperforate to facilitate its utilization inthe above described manner, or it may have a blackboard on one side.

Disposed in operative relation with the peripheral frame 16 andextending transversely between opposite sides of said frame are tubularstifleners or side rails 20, the opposite ends of which abut oncontiguous portions of the interior wall of the frame 16, as best shownin Figure 5 of the drawings, being inserted in mounting members 23, andheld by fasteners, such as rivets, 25.

Nested in two recesses 27 provided in the outer wall of :the frame 16are garnish or bumper strips 28, of suitable resilient material, such asrubber or plastic. These also serve to decorate and conceal theunderlying riveted construction. 1

It will be noted that the opposite ends of the side rails 20 underliethe respective inwardly directed flange 17 which thus serves to retainthe juxtaposed end of the side rail 20 in its predetermined locationwith respect to the peripheral frame 16.

Disposed in the corners of the frame 16 and maintained in operativerelationship therewithby means of mounting brackets 31 are extensiblesupporting legs 30, said legs being maintained in extended position byretractable braces 33. Therefore, the legs 31] can be moved from theextended position shown in Figures '1 and 2 of the drawings into thefolded position shown inrFigure .12 of the drawings to facilitate thetransportation of the article of furniture 10. 1

Each of the legs 30 includes an outer tubulansection 35, and an innertubular section 37 telescopically engaged in said outer tubular sectionand movable therein toad just the length of the leg to a predeterminedextentefn a manner which will be described in greater detail below videdwith casters 38 upon their lower extremities to facilitate the movementof the article of furniture it) across the surface upon which it isdisposed.

The outer tubular sections 35 of the extensible legs 34 are eachprovided with vertically spaced outer de- It will be noted that theinner tubular sections are protent openings 39 which are disposableadjacent an inner detent opening 41 provided in the inner tubularsection 37. Disposed in each of the inner tubular sections 37 adjacentthe inner detent opening 41 therein is a detent member 43 formed fromspring steel and of substantially S-shaped configuration. The detentmember 43 includes a base portion 45 which, as best shown in Figure 8 ofthe drawings, spans the interior of the inner section 37 of the legs 30,and has integrally formed therewith an upwardly extending spring arm 47,said spring arm having provided upon the upper end thereof a radiallyextending detent head 49 which extends through the associated innerdetent opening 41 and through a contiguous outer detent opening 39 inthe outer section 35 of the leg 30. The detent member 43 thus locatesthe inner section 37 of each of the legs 3% with respect to the outersection thereof by engaging one of the vertically spaced detent openings39 in said outer section. Therefore, the legs 30, and more particularlythe inner sections 37 thereof, .can be extended from the outer sections.35 into the four different positions shown in Figure 14 of thedrawings, thus ,permitting the table top 18 to be raised by means of theextension of the legs 30 to a predetermined distance above a surfaceupon which the article It) is located.

When it is desired to adjust the inner section 37 of each of the legs 30with respect to the outer section 35 thereof, the radially extendingdetent head 49 is pressed inwardly against the bias of the spring arm 47to release the associated outer detent opening 39. The inner section 37of the leg 30 then can be freely moved with respect to the outer sectionuntil the desired outer opening 39 is juxtaposed to the inner opening 41and the spring arm 47 will then cause the extension of the detent head49 through the juxtaposed outer detent opening 35 to retain the innersection 37 of the leg in the selected extended position. The outer sideedges of the detent heads 49 are preferably slanted or tapered to serveas cam surfaces which depress and retract the detent heads upon relativerotation of the leg sections 35 and 37 as by grasping and turning therespective sections 37 until the heads are retracted, whereuponre-registration with another slotted outer opening 39 is attained byreversing said turning motion and moving the leg sections axiallyrelative to one another to the next opening. Any vertical index line, orthe like, on the respective sections 35 and 37 may be employed tofacilitate such alignment of the sections and the selected openings withthe detent heads 49.

The seat structure 12 is disposed in operative relationship with thetable structure 11 by means of a pair of laterally spaced suspensoryarms 5t), as best shown in Figures 23, 6, and 910 of the drawings. Thesuspensory arms 50 are constituted by elongated, right-angularly shapedmembers 53, said members including a horizontal portion 55 which isdisposable in overlapping relationship with the periphery of anassociated side rail 20, as best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, tosuspend the seat structure 12 from the side rails 21 within theperipheral frame 16 of the table structure 11. Therefore, the seatstructure 12 is supported on the table structure 11 through thecooperation of the suspensory arms 51? of the seat structure 12 and thelaterally spaced side rails 2'0 of the table structure 11, thuseliminating the necessity for auxiliary suspensory fastenings andpermitting the seat structure 12 to be easily and quickly removed fromits operative relationship with the table structure 11 so that it may beutilized in applications such as those shown in Figures '9, 10, and 11of the drawings, which will be adverted to in detail below.

A plurality of openings 56 is provided in the horizontal portion of eachof the suspensory arms 50, said openings portions 57 of the suspensoryarms 50 depend down- 7 wardly from the horizontal portions 55 formedintegrally therewith adjacent the side rails 20, as best shown in Figure6 of the drawings, and are joined at their rearmost ends, as best shownin Figure 2, by a tie-bar 59 which serves to maintain the suspensoryarms 50 in operative relationship with each other and also maintainsthem in the proper spacing to prevent the inadvertent dislocationthereof from operative relationship with the side rails 20.

Pivotally engaged at their upper ends upon the vertical portions 57 ofthe suspensory arms 50 are elongated supporting brackets 61 which, asbest shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, are welded at theirlowermost ends to the opposite ends of supporting bars 63 for supportinga seat 64 formed from fiberboard or similar material in operativerelationship with the opening 19 in the table top 18. Spring clips 67,best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings, serve to secure theseat 64 to the supporting bars 63.

Pivotally secured to the rear edge of the seat 64 is'a seat back 68,said seat back being constituted by sections 69 and 71 hingedly engagedwith each other to permit the section 71 to lie in folded relationshipwith the section 69. The seat back 68 is disposable in a first, verticalposition in which it rests against the tie-bar 59, as best shown inFigure 2 of the drawings, and a second, horizontal position, best shownin Figure 11 of the drawings, wherein the sections 69 and 71 are foldeddownwardly to permit the section 71 to bridge the gap between theassociated seat structure 12 and a foot-rest structure 14, as best shownin Figure 11 of the drawings.

Adjusting links 73 are disposable between the supporting brackets 61,best shown in Figures 2, 4, 9-10, and 11 of the drawings, said adjustinglinks being provided on one end thereof with a detent pin 74 engageablewith any one of a plurality of adjusting openings 75 in the rearmostpair of supporting brackets 61. When the seat structure is utilized toperform its seating function, the adjusting links 73 are engaged withthe appropriate adjusting openings 75 to maintain the rearmost ends ofthe suspensory arms 50 in positions in which they extend beyond the rearedge of the seat 64 so that the tie-bar 59 will be moved back a distancesufficient to permit the rearward inclination of the seat back 68.However, when it is desired to utilize the seat structure 12 as acomponent portion of a temporary bed, as best illustrated in Figure 11of the drawings, the two adjusting links 73 are rotated about theirpivotal securement on the corresponding brackets 61 so that said links73 are horizontally disposed for insertion of their pins 74 intosuitable openings in one of the brackets 85. It should be noted that theprovision of supporting bars 63 and the associated spring clips 67 onthe seat 64 permits the supporting brackets 61 welded to the oppositeends of the supporting bars to be pivoted in relation to the seat 64 inthe above described manner.

The tubes 28 are provided with spaced holes in the top thereof for thereception of down-turned ends 79 of the safety bar 78 for retaining saidbar 78 in a desired fixed position along the side rails 20, as bestshown in Figures 3 and 6.

It will be noted that a centrally located safety strap 80 is provided,the opposite ends of which are looped over the safety bar 78 and thesupporting bar 63 to prevent a child or infant seated in the seatstructure 12 from slipping downwardly from the seat 64.

The bar 78 engages the underside of the table top 18 supporting thesame, especially adjacent the infant accommodating opening 19.

The foot-rest structure 14 includes a pair of laterally spaced sidesupports 82 constituted by elongated rightangularly shaped members 83whose horizontal portions are designed to overlie the side rails 20in amanner substantially identical with the manner in which the suspensoryarms 56 overlie the side rails 20 to support the seat structure 12.Therefore, the side supports 82 serve to maintain the foot-reststructure 14 in the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, wherein the foot-rest structure 14 cooperates with the seatstructure 12 to provide an infant bed when the seat back 68 is movedinto the horizontal position shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, inwhich it spans the gap between the seat structure 12 and the foot-reststructure 14.

Supporting brackets 85 are secured at their uppermost ends to the sidesupports 82 and are welded at their lowermost ends to transverselyoriented supporting bars 87 which are engageable with spring clips 89fastened to a curvilinear footboard 91 formed of fiberboard or similarmaterial. The foot-rest structure 14 is pivotally secured to thesuspensory arms 50 of the seat structure 12 by means of elongatedpivotally mounted supporting links 92 which permit the foot-reststructure 14 to be moved from a first, horizontal position in which thefootrest structure serves as the end of an infant bed, into a second,vertical position, best shown in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings, inwhich the foot-rest structure 14 is disposed below the seat structure 12to serve as a footrest for an infant seated upon the seat structure 12.It will be noted that two of the supporting brackets 85 are providedwith clearance openings 86 which permit them to clear the spring clipsand support bar at the forward end of the seat structure 12 when thefoot-rest structure 14 is disposed in the second, vertical positionthereof, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

One of the side supports 82, as best shown in Figures 2 and 7 of thedrawings, is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced securementopenings 93, while the other of the side supports 82 is provided with aplurality of vertically spaced pairs 95 of securement openings, as bestshown in Figures 7 and 11 of the drawings.

A foot-rest 98 is disposable in operative relationship with the sidesupports 82 when the foot-rest structure 14 is disposed in the second,vertical position, said foot-rest being provided with mounting blocks 99and 101 at the opposite ends thereof. The mounting block 99, best shownin Figure 7 of the drawings, is provided with laterally spaced locatingpins 103, which are receivable in a selected pair 95 of verticallyspaced securement openings, while the mounting block 101 incorporates aspringbiased plunger 185, which is receivable in one of the verticallyspaced openings 93 in the other side support 82.

Since the spring-biased plunger 105 is releasable from its associatedopenings 93, the foot-rest can be readily raised or lowered toaccommodate children of different heights when they are seated on theseat structure 12. Furthermore, the foot-rest 98 can be adjusted to aselected position to accommodate for the growth of the infantcustomarily utilizing the multi-use article of furniture 10.

As previously indicated, one of the important aspects of this inventionis the facility with which the seat structure 12 may be removed fromoperative relationship with the table structure 11 by simply lifting theseat structure 12 vertically upwardly to remove the suspensory arms 50from operative relationship with the side rails 20, without disturbingthe safety bar 78, which is retained by a preferred elasticity in thesafety strap 80.

When so removed, the seat structure 12 can be utilized to perform anumber of useful and varied functions. For instance, as illustrated inFigure 9 of the drawings, the openings 56 in opposite ends of thesuspensory arms 50 are designed to receive S-hooks and suspensory ropes109, to permit the seat structure 12 to be utilized as an infant swing.It will be noted that in this particular application of the seatstructure 12, the adjusting links 73 are disposed in a position in whichthe rearward ends of the suspensory arms 50 extend behind the rearwardedge of the seat 64 to permit the rearward inclination of the seat back68. t

ing movement to said article of furniture.

Another application of the seat structure 12 of this invention isgraphically illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings, wherein the mannerin which the seat structure 12 can be utilized as a car seat isillustrated. Demountable hook members 111, having lower hook portionsengageable with the pairs of openings 56 in the rearward ends of thesuspensory arms 50, are provided, and the seat structure 12 can thus bemounted as a temporary seat on a car seat, or bed, back 112. Inapplications such as these, the inherent rigidity of the suspensory arms50 is a major factor in permitting the utilization of the seat structure12, since the suspensory arms 54) provide the necessary safety factor.Of course, the facility with which the seat structure 12 can be removedfrom operative association with the table structure 11 is anotherimportant factor.

The manner in which the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14can be utilized in conjunction with each other as a temporary infant bedwhen removed from operative relationship with the table structure 11 isclearly shown in Figure 11 of the drawings. When so utilized, theadjusting links 73; of the seat structure 12 are moved into positionswhere the rearward ends of the suspensory arms 50 are located insubstantial alignment with the rearward edge of the seat 64. The seatstructure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 .are maintained in operativerelationship by the connecting link 92 extending therebetween.

It will also be noted that the seat back 68, and, more particularly thesections 69 and 71 thereof, are folded downwardly into horizontalpositions in which the gap between the seat structure 12 and thefoot-rest structure is spanned by said sections which thus serve as aportion of the bottom of the temporary infant bed. When the necessityfor the use of the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 as atemporary infant bed has passed, the seat structure 12 and the foot-reststructure 14 can be readily re-installed in operative relationship withthe table structure 11 by merely disposing the suspensory arms 50 of theseat structure 12 and the side supports 82 of the foot-rest structure 14in operative engagement with the side rails 20.

The manner in which the multi-use article of furniture 10 of thisinvention can be readily folded into a relatively compact package by thefolding of the major components thereof into the space defined by theperipheral frame 16 is graphically illustrated in Figure 12 of thedrawings. The legs 30 are retracted within the peripheral frame 16, andthe seat structure 12 can then be readily pivoted into the plane of andwithin said peripheral frame. In order to facilitate the transportationof the article of furniture 10, the foot-rest structure 14 may beremoved from its operative relation with either the side rails 20 or theseat structure 12.

Another mode of utilization of the article of furniture 10 of thisinvention .is illustrated in Figure 13 of the drawings, the article offurniture 10 being mounted in operative relationship with rockers 115 toimpart rock- The rockers 115 are of conventional configuration and areprovided in the opposite ends thereof with arcuate recesses 117, saidrecesses being adapted to receive the lower portions of the wheelsincorporated in the caster 38 to maintain the legs of the article offurniture 10 in operative relationship with the rockers 115. Casterlocks 119, constituted by elongated metal clips having their upper ends.engageable with the casters 38 and their lower ends secured byfasteners .121 to the rockers 115, prevent inadvertent dislodgment ofthe wheels from the recesses 117.

Therefore, to convert the article of furniture 10 from aleg-mounted to arocker-mounted structure, it is merely necessary to locate the wheels ofthe casters 38 in the recesses 117. The upper portions of the casterlocks 119 are then inserted in operative relationship with the casters38, and fastened to the rockers 115 by the utilization of the fasteners121.

The manner in which the legs 30 of the table structure 11 can be readilyextended to raise the table top 18 selected distances above the surfaceupon which the. article of furniture is disposed, is clearly shown inFigure 14. of the drawings. It is readily apparent, therefore, that thearticle of furniture 10 is adapted for a multiplicity of uses and thatthe various components thereof can be readily assembled and disassembledwithout the utilization of special tools or fasteners.

Among the salient features of this invention are: the mode of suspensionof both the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 inoperative relationship with the table structure 11; the manner in whichthe foot-rest structure acn be. utilized in conjunction with ademountable and adjustable foot-rest when the seat structure 12 isutilized in its seating capacity; the ease with which both the seatstructure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 can be dismounted, fromoperative relationship with the table structure 11; and the manner inwhich both the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 can beadapted for a wide variety of uses when disassembled from operativerelationship with the table structure 11.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I haveconceived to be the most practical id preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of myinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent structures and devices.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a multi-use article of furniture, the combination of: a framemember; legs supporting said frame member; a pair of laterally spacedside rails extending transversely of said frame member in spacedrelation with each other; a seat structure having a first pair oflaterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails; anda foot rest structure having a second pair of laterally spacedsuspensory members engageable with said side rails and disposablethereupon in spaced relation with said first pair of suspensory members.

2. In a multi-use article of furniture, the combination of: a framemember; legs supporting said frame member; a pair of laterally spacedside rails extending transversely of said frame member in spacedrelation with each other; a seat structure having a first pair oflaterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side. rails,said first pair of suspensory members being constituted by elongated,right-angularly shaped arms having horizontal portions disposed inoverlying relationship with said rails; and a foot rest structure havinga second pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable withsaid side rails and disposable thereupon in spaced relation with saidfirst pair of .suspensory members.

In a multi-use article of furniture, the combination of: afrarne'member; legs supporting said frame member; a pair of laterallyspaced side rails extending transversely of said frame member in spacedrelation with each other; a seat structure having a first pair oflaterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails; anda foot rest structure having a second pair of laterally spacedsuspensory members engageable with said side rails and disposablethereupon in spaced relation with said first pair of suspensory members,said second pair of suspensory members being constituted by elongated,right-angularly shaped supports having horizontal portions disposed inoverlying relation with said rails.

4. In a multi-use article of furniture, the combination of: a framemember; legs supporting said frame member; a pair of laterally spacedside rails extending transversely of said frame member in spacedrelation with each other; a seat structure having a first pair oflaterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails,said first pair of suspensory members being constituted by elongated,right-angularly shaped arms having horizontal portions disposed-inoverlying relationship with said rails;

and a foot rest structure having a second pair of laterally spacedsuspensory members engageable with said side rails and disposablethereupon in spaced relation with said first pair of suspensory members,said second pair of suspensory members being constituted by elongated,right-angularly shaped supports having horizontal portions disposed inoverlying relation with said rails.

5. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: atable structure constituted by a leg-sup ported frame having a table topsupported at its peripheral edge by said frame and by means oftransverse stiffness extending between side portions of said frame; aseat structure disposed within the confines of said frame, said seatstructure having arm members engaging said stifleners for supportingsaid seat structure; and a foot rest structure movable between a firstposition in which it is supported by a pair of support members on saidstifieners in horizontal alignment with said seat structure and a secondposition in which it partially underlies said seat structure and issuspended from the same.

6. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: atable structure constituted by a leg-supported frame having a table topsupported at its peripheral edge by said frame and by means oftransverse stiifeners extending between side portions of said frame; aseat structure disposed Within the confines of said frame, said seatstructure having arm members engaging said stiffeners for supportingsaid seat structure; a foot rest structure movable between a firstposition in which it is supported by a pair of support members on saidstiifeners in horizontal alignment with said seat structure and a secondposition in which it partially underlies said seat structure and issuspended from the same; and a demountable foot rest engageable withsaid support members when said foot rest structure is disposed in saidsecond position.

7. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: atable structure constituted by a leg-supported frame having a table topsupported at its peripheral edge by said frame and by means oftransverse stiifeners extending between side portions of said frame; aseat structure disposed within the confines of said frame, said seatstructure having arm members engaging said stiffeners for supportingsaid seat structure and a pivotally mounted back rest movable between afirst, vertical position and a second, horizontal position; and a footrest structure movable between a first position in which it is supportedby a pair of support members on said stilfeners in horizontal alignmentwith said seat structure and a second position in which it partiallyunderlies said seat structure and is suspended-from the same, said backrest being moved into said second horizontal position when said footrest structure is in said first position to bridge the gap between saidseat structure and said foot rest structure.

8. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: aleg-supported table structure constituted by a peripheral frame havinglaterally spaced stilfeners extending from one side to another thereof;a seat structure supported on said frame by arm members engageable withsaid stiifeners, said arm members having supporting links pivotallyconnected thereto for supporting the seat portion of said seatstructure; a foot rest structure having laterally spaced supportingmeans engageable with said stiffeners when said foot rest portion isdisposed in a first horizontal position and with said seat structurewhendisposed in a second vertical position, said supporting means beingprovided with securement means thereupon; and a demountable foot restengageable with said securement means of said supporting means when saidfoot rest structure is located in said second position.

9. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: aleg-supported table structure constituted by a peripheral frame havinglaterally spaced stiffeners extending from one side to another thereof;a seat structure supported on said frame by arm members engageable withsaid stiffeners, said arm members having supporting links pivotallyconnected thereto for supporting the seat portion of said seatstructure; a foot rest structure having laterally spaced supportingmeans engageable with said stifieners when said foot rest portion isdisposed in a first horizontal position and with said seat structurewhen disposed in a second vertical position, said supporting means beingprovided with vertically spaced securement means thereupon; and ademountable foot rest engageable with said securement means of saidsupporting means when said foot rest structure is located in said secondposition.

10. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: aleg-supported table structure constituted by a peripheral frame havinglaterally spaced stiffeners extending from one side to another thereof;a seat strunture supported on said frame by arm members engageable withsaid stifieners, said arm members having supporting links pivotallyconnected thereto for supporting the seat portion of said seatstructure, said seat portion having a folding seat backpivotallyconnected to the rear edge thereof and movable between vertical andhorizontal positions; a foot rest structure having laterally spacedsupporting means engageable with said stiffeners when said foot restportion is disposed in a first horizontal position and with said seatstructure when disposed in a second vertical position, said supportingmeans being provided with securement means thereupon and said seat backbeing moved into said horizontal position when said foot rest structureis disposed in said first position to bridge the gap between said seatand foot rest structures.

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